Bulls power forward Taj Gibson missed practice yesterday with a sore right ankle, but he insists that he'll be ready to play on Friday night against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Tom Thibodeau says that Gibson is a game-time decision, because of course:

Taj says he'll play tonight. Thibs says game time.

— Aggrey Sam (@CSNBullsInsider) December 21, 2012

Gibson played very well in the win over the Celtics on Tuesday despite being noticeably hobbled. The missed practice on Thursday appears to be just precautionary, but I do worry that Gibson is pushing to play simply because the game is back in his home town. We all remember what happened when Richard Hamilton rushed back from a groin injury just to play the Pistons at the start of last year. I guess we'll just have to hope for the best.